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What’s in it for me? The Big Benefits of Kefir

Trendy superfoods have been coming and going in and out of the spotlight for decades. But kefir is different. It has true staying power.

It’s one of the oldest products of its type (cultured milk) in existence. Kefir has been sold as kefir drink since 1908 in Moscow, and it keeps its spot on our health-food radar for a bunch of reasons.

In fact, many people believe that the origin of the word kefir is the word “keyif”, which refers to the “good feeling” you’ll get after drinking or eating it.

So, what is it?

Kefir is a grain, but is more popularly known as a drink, a fermented milk product made from using the kefir grains as a yeast/bacterial starter. You can buy it pre-made or make it at home.

The grains somewhat appear to look like cauliflower. A variety of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts could populate the grain, but one that is always present is the Lactobacillus species.

We won’t go into the details about how to make your own kefir, because we’re not experts on the process (yet), but you can find excellent instructions from the Seeds of Health blog here.

What can it do for me?

Kefir is a source of vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, probiotics and antioxidants. With high levels of B12, calcium, folate and K2, it offers support for energy and bone health.

Some other huge benefits of kefir:

• Inflammation reduction

• Immune function regulation

• Moderated allergic response (due to immune modulation support)

• Calcium metabolism

• Vitamin K2 for bone health

• Antifungal and antibacterial

• GI health through microbial balance

Drinking fermented milk isn’t my thing. What else can I do with kefir?

If you’re not one for the healthy drink market, don’t count kefir out yet. It’s not only used in kefir drinks, but in many recipes, from soup to salad dressing to cookies. Check out this amazing collection of over 80 ways to use kefir milk from healthfoodlover.com.

Want to learn more about how probiotic strains can support your health? Browse our collection of GI support products here.